2 CONTENTS Acknowledgments Page Executive Summary Part 1 - Introduction 1 Background 1 Objective and Scope 1 Methodology 2 Part 2 - Health Care Delivery System 3 Development of Health Care Delivery System 3 Role of Public and Private Sectors in Health Care System 4 Policy Objective 4 National Structure of Health Care System 5 Commonwealth Government 5 State and Territory Health Authorities 5 Local Governments 5 Health Care Delivery System 5 Institutional Health Care Services 6 Community Health Care Services 6 Environmental Health and Hygiene 7 Information, Coordination and Research 7 Compulsory National Health Insurance - Medicare 7 Objective of Medicare 7 Medicare Benefits Schedule 8 Medicare Benefits 8 Medicare Safety Net 9 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 9 Objective of PBS 9 PBS Benefits 10 PBS Safety Net The Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat welcomes the re-publication, in part or in whole, of this research report, and also its translation in other languages. Material may be reproduced freely for non-commercial purposes, provided acknowledgment is made to the Research and Library Services Division of the Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat as the source and one copy of the reproduction is sent to the Provisional Legislative Council Library.

4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We gratefully acknowledge the assistance given to us by many people in the preparation of this research paper. In particular, we would like to thank the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services of Australia for supplying information and compiling data for this research.

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. In Australia, health care services and products are provided by both the public and private sectors. The money spent on health care services mainly comes from the Commonwealth, State and Territory and Local Governments (67%) through taxation and Medicare levy. Other sources such as private health insurance funds which collect premiums from individuals contribute 10% and individuals direct payments constitute about 20%. 2. About 30% of the Commonwealth s expenditure on health care is spent on public hospitals and a similar proportion on medical services. In contrast, private health insurance funds spend almost half of their claims payments on private hospitals whereas individuals spend 60% of their health care expenditure on pharmaceuticals, dental and other professional services. 3. Medicare is a compulsory national insurance scheme which allows universal access to free treatment in public hospitals, full or subsidized out-patient medical treatment and pharmaceuticals. In , Medicare levy is 1.5% of an individual s taxable income and there is an additional 1% Medicare surcharge on singles earning more than A$50,000 and couples and families earning more than A$100,000 but who have not subscribed to any private hospital insurance. Medicare levy covers 8% of total health care expenditure. Since the cost for joining Medicare is low, it is likely to generate excess demand on health care services. 4. Private health insurance subscription is on a voluntary basis and provides cover for private hospital accommodation, in-patient medical services not covered by Medicare, and ancillary services such as dentistry. Private health insurance covers 11% of total health care expenditure. 5. Premiums of private health insurance are subjected to community rating, of which insurers cannot charge premiums according to age, sex and state of health. Thus, there are only four rates of premiums for a given insurance product: single, couple, single parent family and family. To underpin the principle of community rating, there is a reinsurance arrangement which redistributes the risk from the low claimed insurance firms to those with high proportion of aged and chronically ill customers. However, such arrangement may induce adverse selection whereby low risk people will withdraw but those expecting to make claims will join. The cost for joining private health insurance is far higher comparing to that of Medicare.

6 HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURE AND FINANCING IN AUSTRALIA PART 1 - INTRODUCTION 1. Background 1.1 The Research and Library Services Division (RLS) of the Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) Secretariat was requested by the Panel on Health Services to conduct research on health care expenditure and financing in Hong Kong and overseas. This research report which discusses health care financing is one of the series of reports on overseas systems. The research report entitled Health Care Expenditure and Financing in Hong Kong (RP06/PLC) was discussed by the Panel on Health Services in March Objective and Scope 2.1 The objective of this research is to analyze the expenditure pattern and financing arrangements of the Australian health care system so as to assist the Panel on Health Services in considering the Health Care System review which is expected to be completed by the Government by the end of The scope of this research is as follows: describe the health care system of Australia; describe and analyze changes in the expenditure pattern of the health care system ; and describe and analyze the health care financing arrangements in Australia.

7 3. Methodology 3.1 This study involves a combination of information collection, literature review and analysis, telephone interviews and correspondence with the Australian authorities. 3.2 Literature studied includes publications from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services of Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Department of Administration and Finance of Australia, Australia Industry Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics and other relevant institutions. Telephone interviews were held with a number of general practitioners who had previously practised or are currently practising in the public and private hospitals or clinics. Letters were also sent to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services of Australia to obtain the necessary information and statistics. 3.3 This research paper is based on the information obtained from these sources. 3.4 The average exchange rate of the Australian Dollar was A$1.00=HK$5.73 in 1995; A$1.00=HK$6.06 in 1996 and A$1.00=HK$5.76 in Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics, February 1998, Table 7.12, p108. Research and Library Services Division page 2

8 PART 2 - HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM 4. Development of Health Care Delivery System 4.1 At federation in 1901, the Commonwealth assumed little role in health care services, and each State had its own health authorities and services. 4.2 In 1921, the Department of Health was established. It was mainly responsible for a variety of services including quarantine, health laboratories, public health education, occupational health, tropical health research and education. 4.3 In 1926, to better coordinate health care services of the Commonwealth and the States, the Federal Health Council which consisted of the top Commonwealth and State health department administrators was established to make recommendations to the involved parties on health issues and priorities. Many services were introduced including cancer prevention, medical research, poisons regulation, maternal health and medical advertising. 4.4 In 1946, there was a Constitutional referendum and welfare benefits were extended to cover hospital, medical, pharmaceutical and dental services. A steady expansion of health care services followed in the 1950s and 1960s. 4.5 In the 1970s and 1980s, the Commonwealth advocated health insurance; a compulsory universal health insurance (Medicare) was introduced in 1984 which provided subsidies for out-patient medical services and allowed eligible patients free access to public hospitals. 4.6 In the mid-1990s, the Commonwealth saw the impediments which affected the growth in health care and community services, and launched a reform on the health care system. The objectives were to meet people s needs better and deliver services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. National goals and targets for health and related community services were identified and pursued through the organization of services, planning and funding arrangements and information support. 4.7 The Australian health care system is characterized by the following: Health care services and products are provided by both the public and private sectors. There is universal access to free treatment in public hospitals. Research and Library Services Division page 3

9 Out-patient medical services are provided by private medical practitioners on a fee-for-service basis, but the patient can claim the money back from Medicare, i.e. the compulsory national insurance scheme. Details on Medicare will be discussed in Section 9. There is universal access to pharmaceuticals at reasonable cost through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Details on PBS will be discussed in Section 10. There are voluntary insurance schemes offered by the registered private health insurance funds to cover hospital accommodation; medical services which are not covered by Medicare; and ancillary services 2 such as dentistry, optical services and ambulance services. 5. Role of Public and Private Sectors in Health Care System 5.1 The Commonwealth has a broad policy leadership and financing role in health care matters while the State and Territory Governments are responsible for the delivery of health care services and the regulation of health workers in the public and private sectors. The division of responsibilities is complex, functionally and geographically. 5.2 One-third of the health care services are provided by profit-making private enterprises and by non-government not-for-profit organizations. 6. Policy Objective 6.1 Australia s health care policy conformed to that set by World Health Organization (WHO). In 1977, the World Health Assembly decided that by the year 2000, all people of the world should attain a level of health that would permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. 3 In 1981, the Assembly adopted a Global Strategy for Health for All by the Year Under this strategy, it was hoped that everyone could gain access to essential health care services and resources for health care should be evenly distributed. 2 3 Ancillary services include dentistry, optical, chiropractic, physiotherapy, dietetic and other services, ambulance services, and aids and appliances, e.g. spectacles. Health for All, World Health Organization. Research and Library Services Division page 4

10 7. National Structure of Health Care System Commonwealth Government 7.1 At the national level, health care services are administered by two ministers, namely, the Minister for Health and Family Services and the Minister for Family Services in the Commonwealth Government. 7.2 The Minister for Health and Family Services has an overall responsibility for both health and family services, though his main responsibility is to administer most of the health services. These include Medicare benefits, private health insurance, hospital services and medical workforce issues. He is also responsible for public health, health research and Aboriginal health matters. 7.3 The Minister for Family Services is responsible for family and children s services, aged and community care services and disability programmes. State and Territory Health Authorities 7.4 Each State and Territory has its own health authority which is administered by the corresponding State or Territory Minister. State and Territory health authorities are mainly responsible for hospital services, mental health programmes, dental health services, home and community care, child, adolescent and family health services, women's health programmes, health promotion, rehabilitation systems, regulation, inspection, licensing, and monitoring of premises; institutions and personnel. Local Governments 7.5 Local Governments are responsible for immunization services. They also provide community-based services for people with disabilities, and a variety of environmental services that contribute to good health. 8. Health Care Delivery System 8.1 Health care services are delivered through institutional and non-institutional services. Institutional services include hospital and nursing home services. Hospitals provide episodic and intensive care to patients who are at critical condition or with complex health problems while nursing homes provide long term care to the chronically ill and frail aged people. Non-institutional services include community health care, environmental hygiene and health research and administration services. Non-institutional services mainly provide primary care to the general public. Research and Library Services Division page 5

11 Institutional Health Care Services Public Hospitals 8.2 Public hospitals are administered either by hospital boards, religious or charitable bodies, or district boards. The broad range of services include emergency, medical, surgical, paediatric, obstetric, rehabilitation, intensive care, vascular and cardiothoracic services. Public hospitals also provide out-patient services. Private Hospitals 8.3 Private hospitals are run by proprietors operating for profit, or as notfor-profit enterprises run by religious or charitable organizations. They provide medical, surgical, obstetric, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Nursing Homes and Hostels 8.4 Nursing homes provide accommodation and long-term nursing care for the chronically ill, disabled or demented patients who need full-time care. Hostels provide accommodation and domestic assistance such as meal services, laundry, and personal care for the aged, distressed, or disabled person who cannot live independently but do not need nursing care in a hospital or nursing home. They are run by both the public and private sectors. Community Health Care Services Home and Community Care 8.5 To enable the frail aged and people with disabilities to live at home, supporting services are provided through the Home and Community Care Programme. These include home help and personal care, home maintenance and modification, food services, community-based care, transport services, community paramedical services, community nursing, education and training services. Out-patient Medical Services 8.6 Out-patient medical services are provided by private medical practitioners on a fee-for-service basis. They also constitute the principal gateway to specialized services. Research and Library Services Division page 6

12 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 8.7 Both the State, Territory and Local health authorities are active in health promotion and disease prevention. They provide immunization and advisory services at infant health centres, antenatal clinics, immunization clinics and community health centres. Environmental Health and Hygiene 8.8 While the State and Territory authorities are responsible for monitoring air quality, Local Governments are responsible for environmental hygiene and sanitation practices. Information, Coordination and Research 8.9 To enable the governments and the community to plan and formulate health care policies, there are many statutory and non-statutory organizations which provide information, coordination and research on health care system. 9. Compulsory National Health Insurance - Medicare 9.1 Medicare is a compulsory national health insurance system which came into operation in The scheme is administered by the Health Insurance Commission (HIC). It provides protection to all Australian residents and visitors from countries with which Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements. 4 Objective of Medicare 9.2 According the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, Medicare is to enable eligible patients to obtain appropriate private medical services which are necessary for their health care, without excessive price barriers, through payment of Medicare benefits and associated arrangements Those countries include Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Annual Report , Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, p81. Research and Library Services Division page 7

13 Medicare Benefits Schedule 9.3 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is the list constructed by the Government which sets the standard fee for each medical service. The Schedule covers services rendered by legally qualified medical practitioners and certain prescribed services rendered by approved specialists. The Schedule is constantly reviewed through on-going consultations with the medical profession and is updated twice yearly to reflect current medical practice. Medicare Benefits 9.4 Any patient under Medicare can choose to be treated as a public or private patient. A public patient does not have the choice of doctors and must be being treated in a public hospital whereas a private patient has his choice of doctors and can go either to a public or private hospital. Out-patient Services 9.5 Medicare provides the beneficiary with access to: Free treatment in a public hospital if the beneficiary chooses to be a public patient; and Free or subsidized treatment 6 provided by general practitioners, specialists, participating optometrists or dentists in out-patient clinics. Patients have the choice of practitioners. 9.6 For out-patient services rendered by general practitioners, Medicare will pay either 85% of the Schedule fee, or the Schedule fee less an amount of up to A$50 7, whichever is larger. The rest is borne by the patients. However, many practitioners only bill Medicare for the 85% Schedule fee, and do not require the patients to pay the balance. This means that the practitioner accepts the 85% Schedule fee as full payment for the service rendered. 9.7 If a fee is charged, the patient can either pay the bill and then claim the benefits from Medicare; or claims on Medicare for the unpaid account and receives a cheque made out in the practitioner s name, then gives the cheque and any outstanding balance to the practitioner. 6 7 Including X-rays, pathology tests, other medical tests, examinations and certain surgical procedures; eye tests; some surgical procedures performed by approved dentists; and specified items under the Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme. This figure is adjusted for inflation on November 1 each year. Research and Library Services Division page 8

14 In-patient Services 9.8 Anyone chooses to be admitted as a public patient in a public hospital will receive free treatment by doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital. Medicare does not cover all medical services. Appendix II lists the services which are not covered by Medicare. 9.9 For private patients, Medicare will pay 75% of the Schedule fee for the services and procedures provided either in a public or private hospital. The remaining 25% can be covered either by private health insurance or from the patient s own resources. If the doctor charges more than the Schedule fee, the patient will have to pay the difference A private patient will also be charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and any medicines. These costs have to be borne by the patient or covered by his private health insurance. Medicare Safety Net 9.11 Medicare Safety Net caps the expenditure which patients make for out-patient services; thus, if the sum of the gaps between benefits and schedule fees exceeds A$276.8, 8 the full schedule fee will be reimbursed for services rendered during the remainder of the year. This 'safety net' threshold is linked to the Consumer Price Index, and is adjusted each year. 10. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 10.1 The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) was established under the provisions of the National Health Act It subsidizes the cost of a wide range of drugs and medicinal preparations so that individuals are not financially precluded from access to these items. PBS provides subsidy to all Australian residents and visitors from countries with which Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements. 9 The scheme is also administered by the HIC. Objective of PBS 10.2 The objective of PBS is to provide timely, reliable and affordable access for the Australian community to necessary and cost effective medicines figure. Information is from Medicare Statistics, December Quarter 1997, Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services. Including United Kingdom, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. Annual Report , Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, p87. Research and Library Services Division page 9

15 PBS Benefits 10.3 Except for concessional patients (i.e. pensioners, the unemployed and low income families), all patients pay a maximum of A$20 for each PBS medicine. 11 The Government pays the rest. For concessional patients, they pay A$ PBS subsidies are paid as cash transfers direct to pharmacists who dispense the medicines. PBS Safety Net 10.4 The PBS safety net limits the expenditure of an individual and/or his immediate family on PBS medicines. In , the thresholds for general patients and concessional patients are A$ and A$ respectively; over these limits general patients only need to pay A$3.20 and concessional patients are free for all PBS medicine for the rest of the calendar year The figure is adjusted annually. The figure does not include a surcharge for more expensive brands. The 1997 prices include an increase announced in the 1996 Federal Budget. Ibid. Ibid. Research and Library Services Division page 10

16 PART 3 - FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 11. Development of Health Care Financing Policy 11.1 Health care services are mainly funded by the Commonwealth Government. Its health care financing policy began in 1946 after a Constitutional referendum. The Commonwealth subsidized the States to provide free in-patient services in public hospitals. It also subsidized patients in private hospitals. In 1953, the National Health Act was passed and the Commonwealth began to provide medical, pharmaceutical and optometrical benefits In 1975, the Commonwealth introduced Medibank which was a universal insurance scheme providing free public hospital services and subsidized medical, pharmaceutical and optometrical services to all Australians. In 1976, the Commonwealth imposed a 2.5% levy on taxable incomes for those who joined Medibank. It also introduced a private health insurance fund called Medibank Private to compete directly with other private insurance funds. Although Medibank and Medibank Private charged different medical levy and provided different protections, their characteristics were similar. Thus, the Commonwealth abolished Medibank but retained Medibank Private in Yet, the Commonwealth still provided free public hospital services and 40% of scheduled medical fees to all Australians In 1984, the Commonwealth reintroduced a compulsory universal health insurance - Medicare. Under Medicare, all tax payers had to pay an additional 1% of taxable income as Medicare levy; and medical and pharmaceutical benefits would be provided directly by the Commonwealth. Under Medicare Agreements, i.e. the agreements between the Commonwealth Government and State and Territory Governments, the Commonwealth would provide financial assistance to State and Territory hospitals so as to ensure that public patients had free shared ward accommodation and treatment for both in-patient and out-patient services. 12. Objective of Health Care Financing Policy 12.1 According to the Budget, the major purpose of the Commonwealth health care outlays is to ensure that all Australians have access to necessary health services without excessive price barriers Budget, Statement 4 - Outlays, Section 5 - Health, Nature of Outlays. Research and Library Services Division page 11

19 13. Financing Arrangements 13.1 From the point of health care providers, the financing arrangements for health care services refer to the various ways of which the providers can acquire funding. Figure 1 depicts the flow of funds from various sources to health care providers in return for health care services offered to individuals In Australia, health care providers receive funding from all levels of government in the form of government allocation, Medicare benefits and PBS payments. They also receive claims payments from private health insurance funds. Individuals pay the health care providers through taxation, Medicare levy or direct out-of-pocket payments (Figure 2). Government Allocation 13.3 The Commonwealth allocates public funds to finance health care services in the form of: Medicare benefits; Pharmaceutical benefits; Direct grants to non-government organizations; Specific purpose payments to State and Territory Governments to support public hospitals and other infrastructure; Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) which provide general assistance to states. These grants are not required to be spent by States in a specific area; and Contribution through Hospital Funding Grants (HFGs) to the states. General Taxation 13.4 Table 1 shows that individual income tax accounts for over 50% of general revenue in Research and Library Services Division page 14

20 Table 1 - General Revenue by Major Categories (a) Revenue category % to total revenue Individual income tax (b) 52 Company tax 14 Fringe benefit tax 2 Collections from superannuation funds and withholding tax 4 Excises 10 Sales tax 10 Customs duty 3 Other taxes, fees and fines 2 Non-tax revenue ( c) 3 Total 100 Remarks: (a) Budget estimate. (b) Including Medicare levy collections and refunds. (c) Including interest, dividends and other revenue not classified. Source: Budget , Department of Administration and Finance, Table BIV 13.5 In Australia, taxation on individual income is progressive. Table 2 lists the individual income tax rate for an Australian resident. Those who earn less than A$5,400 a year do not need to pay income tax, but those who earn more than A$50,000 pay 47 cents on every dollar above A$50,000. Table 2 - Individual Income Tax Rate Individual taxable income (A$) Tax rate 1-5,400 Nil 5,401-20, cents for each A$1 over A$5,400 20,701-38, cents for each A$1 over A$20,700 38,001-50, cents for each A$1 over A$38,000 50,001 and over 47 cents for each A$1 over A$50,000 Source: Tax Pack 97, Australian Taxation Office, p128 Medicare Levy 13.6 On top of income tax, the Commonwealth charges an additional percentage on the taxable income to finance solely medical services. Research and Library Services Division page 15

21 13.7 Medicare levy for is 1.5% of an individual s taxable income. 15 No Medicare levy is applied to single people earning less than A$13,389, couples and sole parents earning less than A$22,594 per year. The additional threshold for each dependent child is A$2, As of 1 July 1997, an additional 1% Medicare levy surcharge is introduced to encourage those who are better off to join private health insurance so as to relieve the pressure on public hospital system. The people being affected include singles with an annual income greater than A$50,000; and couples and families 17 with combined taxable incomes greater than A$100,000, and who do not hold private hospital cover through private health insurance. Private Health Insurance 13.9 After the introduction of Medicare in 1984, private health insurance now covers the following: Up to 100% of the charges levied by public and private hospitals on services such as accommodation, 18 theatre fees, etc; Up to 25% of the MBS fee to cover the Medicare gap for medical services received in private and public hospitals; Medical cover beyond that 25% gap if a contract exists between the private health insurance fund and the doctor specifying the fees to be charged; and Charges on ancillary services. It does not cover out-patient medical services. Community Rating Under the principle of community rating which ensures access by all members of the community to private health insurance, the premiums charged by the funds cannot vary according to the age, sex, state of health or family size of an insured. Thus, a sick older person will pay the same rate as a healthy younger person, but the premiums for similar cover vary with different insurance funds Budget, Statement 5, p6. A family includes a spouse or defacto spouse, children aged under 16 years and dependent fulltime students under 25 years of age. Patient staying in hospital for over 35 days in succession will be regarded as a Nursing Home Type Patient (NHTP). NHTPs have to pay part of hospital accommodation cost. Research and Library Services Division page 16

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